Gunfight on Europa Station by David Boop

Author:David Boop [Boop, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Science Fiction, Collections & Anthologies, Action & Adventure, Space Opera
ISBN: 9781982125721
Google: KNY3zgEACAAJ
Publisher: Baen
Published: 2021-11-02T04:00:00+00:00

The gathered crowd clapped and cheered.

“Thank you all for bearing witness. We are honored you were here with us as the mourning ended,” Leone said.

The cheers grew louder.

Another hour passed before the crowd began to shrink. Usami hugged the neighbors and thanked them for being there as Lyra and Leone walked around shaking hands and sharing stories. Gem stood off to the side watching the people and studying his forearm datapad. Usami walked over to him, distancing herself from the emotions she felt near the crowd.

“Thanks for doing that, Gem,” Usami said.

“No worries. Ini thought it would be a good idea.”

“Your ship?” Usami raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah, he’s always listening. Aren’t you, Ini?” He spoke to the datapad.

“Of course. What else is there for a lowly, sophisticated AI such as myself to do? I can’t very well come inside, now can I? I live vicariously through you. Which is difficult with your personality—or lack thereof,” a voice replied from it.

Gem frowned, and Usami snorted with laughter.

“See, Gem? I’ve made the girl laugh in less than a minute. You spent an hour thinking about jokes to break the ice.”

Gem’s eyes went wide with shock. “You promised.”

Usami roared with laughter at Gem’s embarrassment. She laughed so hard she had to sit down on the bench. Her legs kicked out as she rocked back.

“Ini, I’m going to dismantle you and sell you like cheap scrap,” Gem said.

Usami wiped the tears from her eyes. “Thanks, you two. I needed that.”

A silvery face took shape on the datapad. “Any time, dear. I know your father’s loss is deeply painful. We’re both glad we could help your family in some small way. Thanks for giving my partner here a job.”

Gem’s head dipped down. “He’s right.”

Usami and Gem bumped fists.

“I do all the work, and this lout gets all the love,” Ini lamented.

“I’d hug you if I could, Ini.”

The face on the datapad smiled.

Lyra strolled over. “Thank you again, Gem. Looks like you two are having fun. I hope we can all get to know each other better.”

“Yes, ma’am. Let me get washed up. Is dinner still available?”

“It is. You can clean up in our place. We have some towels you can use. Why don’t you head on in with Leone?” Lyra said.

“Yes, ma’am.” Gem followed Leone, who’d just stepped inside.

“Mama,” Usami pleaded.

“It’s been over a year, and a lady has eyes. Now get inside, and let’s finish dinner with our guest.”

Usami laughed and followed her mother.

* * *

From afar, the debris field marking the ship graveyard looked like a murky cloud. Over the past two months Gem had approached the cloud from different routes every few days. As Ini neared, the ship’s lights reached out, glittering swathes made from metal bits and glass tilting to catch the light and return it. Usami released the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

Gem glanced back at her, half-smiling. “Still don’t trust my flying?”

She shook her head.

Leone frowned. “Stay focused,” he said softly.

They approached the ship that was their target.

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